Social Studies
Grades 3-5
The Courage to Explore​
This unit examines the concept of Courage through an examination of the lives of explorers.
Graffiti or Art?​
This unit challenges student to examine the world
around them and the current events represented in
graffiti art.
Music: A Reflection of Society​
In this unit, students examine how music reflects and influences societies and can be used as a metaphor.
Make a Difference​
Students explore how their compassion impacts social action and provides an opportunity for students to reverse homelessness.
Glorious Gods and Goddesses​
Students discuss ancient civilizations and mythology extending into other cultures such as the Romans and Egyptians.
From Puppets to Muppets​
Students explore the rich history of puppetry.
Sail the Seas​
Students learn and investigate the true roles of pirates throughout history, addressing daily living, social-hierarchy amongst the ship's crew and the Pirate Code of Conduct.
Dreamy Playgrounds
Students are challenged to create their own model of a playground and make it safe enough for children.
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Greek Gods and Goddesses
Students examine the concept of rationalism throughout various Greek myths and lessons.
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Election 2016
This unit offers an opportunity for young people to voice their opinions about the candidates and the issues facing the country in the 21st century.
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Wonderous Wonders of the World
Students study and explore the various wonders of the world, establish criteria for world wonders, nominate a new wonder, and vote for the next set of World Wonders.
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A Family Affair: Piecing Together a Family Heritage
Students think, ask questions, and research information about recent and past family members.
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Money! Money! Money!
This unit exposes students to the inner workings of a market economy, entrepreneurship, types of resources, financial decision making, and creative problem solving.
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Ahoy, Ye Mateys!
Pirates are people who are not generally seen as a structured society of people, however, through this unit students will be challenged to look at things from various perspectives and look beyond the obvious.
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A Journey Through Time: Slavery and the Underground Railroad
This unit will challenge students to examine the idea that responsibility transcends risk through several different lessons based on slavery and the
Underground Railroad.
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Students plan an itinerary and budget for a family trip to a destination of their choice.
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Is it Illegal to Lasso a Fish?
Students will research and examine origins of these unusual laws while developing a deeper understanding of how change impact society.
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There are so many things to do, see, and experience in Durham. This unit provides students the opportunity to learn about out all Durham has to offer.
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How does curiosity impact discovery? In this multi-disciplinary unit, students will dig deep into content to analyze, infer, evaluate, examine, modify, express, challenge, debate, decide, and construct!
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Students develop an understanding of Japanese culture, and how it relates to Sailor Moon, art and food.
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In this unit, students explore how history has influenced the identity of Durham and its people over time.
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North Carolina Folktales, Unexplained Phenomenon, and the Nature of Beliefs
This unit examines the myths and folktales that have been passed down through oral tradition, often with the purpose of providing an entertaining explanation for a currently unexplainable phenomena.
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Building Communities that Advance Our World
Students develop an understanding of the environmental and humanistic constructs of community--including the These values, traditions, beliefs, and physical characteristics of a community.
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Students examine the various ways leaders have affected our country and how effective student leadership can be integrated into learning.
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The Battle of the Blues: The Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill Rivalry
This unit explores the historic matchups, interesting data, and controversial ways that the schools do (and do not) profit from one another.
Grades 6-8
Game On!​
In this unit students will be exploring cultures through the discovery of ancient recreational activities.
Ancient Chinese Science​
In this unit students will explore ancient chinese
innovations such as a writing system, paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, porcelain and silk.
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!​
In this unit students gain an understanding of the background behind journalism and create their own news reports.
CSI Boston​
Students are exposed to a variety of primary and secondary sources and analyze and interpret multiple historical perspectives about the Boston Massacre.
Ancient Architects
For this unit, students analyze three of the architectural contributions from ancient times that we still use to a certain extent today.
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Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Students explore the concept of culture through
the lens of baseball. Why is baseball an integral part of the American experience? How has baseball influenced American life socially, politically, and economically?
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Ancestry Dot What?
Students explore the many aspects of ancestry, its
importance and relevance in their lives will ultimately be chosen by their own interests and personal
connections.
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Chinese Calligraphic Tour: Visiting Ancient China
In this unit, students explore Chinese calligraphy, culture, and language
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Coming Out of the Shadows: Stories We Should Have Known
Students will examine the effects of exclusion and discrimination and how it can lower the aspirations of young women to pursue STEM fields.
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The Trail Most Traveled
In this unit students will study important details surrounding America’s expansion westward.
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Fusion of Decades
Students to look at some of the most important changes that have occurred in America over the past 100 years, focusing on the topics of stereotypes, communication and the American Dream.
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Travel the World to Gain Knowledge and Enhance Perspective
Students learn about and explore different parts of the world through first-hand memoirs of travelers, their experiences and how those experiences changed them and their perspective of others that live in a world different from their own.
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Mysteries and Conspiracies in History
In this unit, students will examine conspiracy theories and other mysteries of history that have piqued the public's interest. How does truth shape our knowledge?
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One Person's Normal is Another Person's Bizarre
Students explore the relationship between culture and perspective by analyzing different components of culture, examining how cultures are formed and passed on, and investigating various superstitions and traditions of cultures across the globe.
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Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Legend
This unit equips students with the necessary skills and tools to address the issue of myths and the romanticization of historical figures
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